1-Color
January 2, 2014 Douglas County, Colorado | Volume 27, Issue 7 A publication of
highlandsranchherald.net
District to appeal judge’s finding DCSD found to have violated campaign act with report By Jane Reuter
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com
within sight of the very trashcan in which she and her siblings nearly died. Lilo and her three surviving littermates, estimated at between three and seven days old when they were found, spent several weeks in foster care before they were made available for adoption in July. Castle Rock residents Hansen and Waggoner aren’t sure why they were selected from among the dozens who wanted to
The Douglas County School District will appeal a judge’s ruling that it violated the Colorado Fair Campaign Practices Act and attempted to influence the outcome of the recent school board election. The ruling was in response to a mid-October complaint filed with the Colorado Secretary of State by unsuccessful school board candidate Julie Keim. She alleged DCSD used district resources to support its preferred candidates, and Administra- Keim tive Law Judge Hollyce Farrell agreed. Those four ultimately successful candidates — Doug Benevento, Jim Geddes, Judi Reynolds and Meghann Silverthorn — support the school district’s educationreform policies. Farrell’s finding of a violation applied to only one of several claims — a districtfinanced report praising the reforms that was emailed to potential voters — that Keim’s attorney presented during two days of testimony. But the former candidate said it was the key piece of evidence. “We were really looking for the finding on that report, because that was the direct connection of using taxpayer resources
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Castle Rock husband-and-wife Morris Hansen and Denise Waggoner hold Lilo during one of her rare still moments at Highlands Ranch’s Heritage Regional Park. Photo by Jane Reuter
Puppy found in trashcan thriving ‘Rambunctious’ Lilo was among dogs abandoned in Highlands Ranch By Jane Reuter
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia. com Lilo squirms in owner Morris Hansen’s arms, wiggling out of his grasp and into the waiting arms of Denise Waggoner, who stands next to her husband.
“She’s kind of rambunctious,” Hansen said, smiling. At almost eight months, the 12-pound puppy’s energy level is about normal. She’s come a long way from the first hours of her life, spent in a trashcan in Highlands Ranch’s Heritage Regional Park. Lilo was abandoned there with her four Shih Tzumix siblings, one of which died before the newborns were discovered on May 21. Just before Christmas, Lilo’s adoptive owners brought her back to the park for a pre-holiday romp. She ran and played
THE TOP 13 SOUTH METRO STORIES OF 2013 and cards from people from around the area. “Warrior strong” and “Warriors always take care of one another” could be seen on signs across the area. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson praised the quick response of the school resource officer after Karl Pierson began shooting at around 12:30 p.m. Dec. 13. With the resource officer fast approaching, Pierson took his own life about 80 seconds after firing his first shot. Since the shooting, classes have been canceled at Arapahoe High School. They are scheduled to resume next week. — Chris Rotar
A look back at the news that left the biggest impression last year Staff report The south metro Denver area saw no shortage of news — or controversy — in 2013, making it a tough task to narrow down the contenders for our stories-of-the-year package. The newsroom staff of Colorado Community Media has whittled the list down to 13 for 2013. They are listed in no particular order, aside from the story of the year, the Arapahoe High School shooting, which horrified us all. You can decide how the other 12 should be ranked.
C-470 project around the bend
Following two years of outreach and research, this February, the C-470 Corridor Coalition Steering Committee — made up of
School shooting at Arapahoe High
An 18-year-old student entered Arapahoe High School, home of the Warriors, on Dec. 13, shot a fellow student in the head, then killed himself. Authorities believe the gunman, an Arapahoe High senior, was targeting a faculty member, but was prepared to cause mass casualties at the Centennial school.
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Makeshift memorials began to pop up immediately in the aftermath of the Dec. 13 shooting at Arapahoe High School. Two weeks later, flowers, notes, signs and candles still lined the perimeter of the school. Photo by Chris Rotar Claire Davis, a 17-year-old senior at the school, spent more than a week in critical condition at Littleton Adventist Hospital. She died Dec. 21.
In the days following the shooting, community support poured in for Davis in the form of prayers, vigils and a tribute outside a fence at the school that included gifts, flowers
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